Danburite (blue)

Alto Chapare, Chapare Province, Cochabamba Department, Bolivia
Small Cabinet, 5.7 x 4.1 x 3.8 cm
Start Time: 09/08/2011 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 09/15/2011 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

While these specimens are not a new find per se, they are new specimens from a well known locality. These are the only blue Danburite crystals that I have ever seen from any locality. Truly the crystals themselves are colorless, but are included by a rare Amphibole called Magnesioriebeckite, for which Alto Chapare is the type locality. This specimen features a nice, sharp, highly lustrous, well formed, prismatic, gray-blue color crystal of Danburite measuring 1.8 cm and sitting atop white Talc matrix. It is not common to find the Danburite crystals from this locality on matrix. An interesting historical note about this locality: Supposedly the mineral was first discovered in the tomb of a cacique (a native Indian chief) where they had been placed jewels to signify that he was rich. The find of these crystals was made near there. One of the recent finds from the summer collecting in Bolivia.

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